ONCE again, we have lost another life to suicide. The reason this time appears to be one that is wrapped in homophobia and the shame one feels when they are targeted by that homophobia. When LGBTQ persons are “in the closet,” having that door pulled open without their consent can be a damaging thing.

Given the stigma associated with same-sex relationships, many persons fear the day they might be “outed” because of how damaging it can be to their lives. Opportunities, jobs and even families can be lost when a presumably straight person is learnt or suspected to be queer.

Shiraj Harilal, who hails from Bath Settlement, is just a latest victim of the heteronormative and homophobia-fuelled rhetoric that sees many queer persons taking their lives. The West Coast Berbice Police Constable drank poison in a deliberate attempt to end his life after a photo of him kissing another male began circulating on social media. Harilal would later die from the poison he ingested.

LGBT persons often have no sense of community, particularly if they are not “out” of the proverbial closet and do not have alliances with other LGBT persons. As remarkable as it may seem, many go through their lives without being aware of other LGBT persons amongst them. There was even a certain period in my life where the concept of being queer seemed unreal to me, despite me being aware of the existence of other sexual orientations.

Despite knowing my own sexual orientation, it was hard for me to feel like part of a community, because I did not know even one queer person in my environment.
Discrimination often leaves persons identifying as queer feeling as if they are inferior to their heterosexual counterparts, given their difference in sexual orientation. This fuels feelings of isolation and self-hate and can lead to persons becoming depressed or suicidal. This can have a range of other effects on the persons, such as causing them to develop anxiety and fears.

Many studies and data will show that the rates of mental illness are higher in the LGBT community. What they will not tell you however, is the reasoning behind these rates. LGBT persons are not just naturally inclined to things such as depression and thoughts of suicide. These are things that are common amongst them because of the stigma and discrimination they receive within society when their orientation is known or assumed. There is a cyclical relationship between that of stigma and suicide within the LGBT community; and we cannot just state that the LGBT community are more prone to things without identifying the reasons why they are prone to it.

Late August saw the “Come As You Are Ministries,” in Linden, marching against homosexuality. Held jointly by Nigel London and Cleveland Thomas, this march saw a large number of Lindeners turning out with their placards and voices to protest against LGBT persons. There were phrases such as “Buggery is not a human right; it is an abomination”; “SASOD promotes what is illegal” and “I am a defender of children.”

These are three arguments that are popular amongst anti-LGBT persons. Whenever the issue of equal rights and justice are brought up, the automatic arguments are that of: religion, law and a shameless effort to equate paedophilia with homosexuality.

Firstly, paedophilia and homosexuality are not the same thing. Whoever tries to make this equation is being disingenuous and is actively spreading misleading and harmful rhetoric to the public. Data from the Guyana Child Care and Protection Agency shows that most paedophiles in Guyana not only identify as heterosexuals, but most of their victims are girls.

Secondly, the populace’s usage of the “it’s against the law,” excuse is one of the reasons why it is so important that the government stops bending to religious bodies when it comes to respecting the human rights of someone. Acts of aggression and hate are made even easier when the violators believe that they will have the backings of a government-supported law. Thirdly, religion has absolutely no place in the ruling of the state. Our constitution ensures that we are a secular state, meaning that while one is free to practise and believe in their religion, their particular religion should have no bearing on the laws of the land.

Harilal’s death shows us how deeply damaging the issues of cyber-bullying and homophobia can be, particularly when they are merged. Persons were relentless in their castigation against him for sharing a kiss with someone of the same sex. Way too many comments ran the line of, ‘he deserved it. He shouldn’t have been kissing a man.’

This rhetoric is something that was either ignored or brushed over and this wilful ignorance is what fuels the homophobia that killed Harilal. He might have been the one to drink the poison, but every person who shared that picture in condemnation of him is implicit in his death. They are the reason he is dead. Inter-Agency Suicide Prevention Helpline: 223-0818 and 223-0001